FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 19, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Urges FCC to Establish Commercial Mobile Alert System Testing Rules

Association Strongly Advises Prohibiting Any Testing That Would Strain Commercial Cellular Networks and Confuse or Alarm Subscribers

Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prohibit Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) testing that involves the delivery of test messages to cell phone users. TIA made clear that such testing could unnecessarily strain cellular networks and alarm cell phone users.

TIA was an active member of the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee (CMSAAC), which delivered recommendations to the FCC on best practices for implementing the CMAS. TIA and CMSAAC consistently argued against CMAS testing involving cell phone users.

At the time of the FCC’s April 9, 2008 CMAS Order, no federal entity had offered to serve as an Alert Aggregator/Gateway that would carry out CMAS testing. Accordingly, the FCC stated that establishing rules on CMAS testing was premature. On May 30, 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced its willingness to serve as the federal Alert Aggregator/Gateway for the CMAS. TIA stated in its letter today that the FCC should now mandate CMAS testing methods prohibiting delivery of test messages to cell phone users.

“With FEMA’s willingness to serve as the Alert Aggregator/Gateway, the time is right for the FCC to create CMAS testing rules prohibiting cell phone users from receiving test messages,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert. “Such testing could strain network resources and potentially alarm and confuse cell phone users. We look forward to further working with the FCC to develop effective CMAS testing methods that do not impose burdens upon cell phone users.”

For more information about TIA’s government affairs initiatives, please contact Danielle Coffey at dcoffey@tiaonline.org; for more information about TIA, please contact Mike Snyder at msnyder@tiaonline.org.

About TIA
Currently in its 84th year, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Thousands of companies and individuals work through TIA to enhance the business environment for telecommunications, broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite, unified communications, emergency communications and the greening of technology. TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

TIA’s Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel- Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Harris Stratex, Henkels & McCoy, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Verari Systems, Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, ILS Technology, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

TIA membership enhances the ability of companies to prepare for the future of communications. TIA brings people and businesses together by helping the industry overcome technical and political barriers to communications. Visit www.tiaonline.org for details.

 

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